Product Description

Josh Smith was born in 1979 in Middletown, Connecticut, and raised in Florida. As a teenager he released two self-produced blues CDs and was sitting in with blues greats at established professional blues jams in South Florida. After graduation from high school in 1997 he went on his first national tour with his newly formed power trio, Josh Smith and the Frost. Later that year, Jim Gaines, whose credits include Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Luther Allison, and many others, produced his third album. In 1999, he entered the recording studio again with Jim Gaines and produced his fourth CD. Three years later, Josh married and he and his wife moved to Los Angeles. Josh was ready for something new and wanted to be around a variety of musicians. He also began being a sideman.Within a year of moving to L.A., he was retained by Virgin recording artist Ricky Fante. He played nationally and internationally with Ricky for the next two years. Josh continued to play with a variety of artists, such as actress Taryn Manning, Universal hip-hop artist Benny Cassette and Tara Ellis, to name a few. In 2007, he was hired by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks to be his lead guitarist. They completed two national tours. Finally, in July 2008, Josh was approached by Raphael Saadiq, Grammy-award winning producer and performer. He has been playing with Saadiq on and off for the past few years. Josh continues to live in the Los Angeles area with his wife and two children.I'm Gonna Be Ready, a more traditional blues CD, is not just a showcase for Josh Smith, the 31-year-old guitar master. Smith, a sophisticated stylist, leaves plenty of room for piano and organ. But he's not a traditionalist, or revivalist. He loves to play, and it shows. You may hear nods to the Vaughan Brothers, Stevie Ray and Jimmy, and their special Texas blues brew. There are soulful moments of deep intensity, slow blues, tastefully arranged with horns in the background. Stax-tinged soul come with , or . shows his deep sense for funky blues. You may hear Albert Collins, and B.B. King in his playing, too. In 1998, Josh was asked to support B.B. King on a number of theatre dates.Josh Smith wrote all the songs for I'm Gonna Be Ready. No fillers. On this release, Josh is supported by some of the finest players in Los Angeles. Kirk Fletcher, his buddy, has worked with Kim Wilson in the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Jeff Young on organ has worked with Jackson Browne and Steely Dan, to name a few. And drummer James Gadson is one of the best in the country.